CAMPAIGNERS for the visually impaired and the disabled are calling for a "dangerous" zebra crossing to be removed from the entrance to a town square before someone is killed.

Caernarfon Blind Club members and the Arfon Access Group want a puffin crossing to be installed on Bridge Street to allow blind people to cross and enter Y Maes safely.

According to them the current crossing offers no security or peace of mind to those blind people brave enough to enter the square as it’s currently laid out.

The Arfon Access Group also accused Gwynedd Council of "completely ignoring" the concerns they raised about introducing a "shared space" scheme and cobblestones on the Maes.

The group’s secretary Vin West said: "A zebra crossing is dangerous for a blind or visually impaired person to use as there are no lights or sounds to say that it is safe to cross."

A puffin crossing on the other hand indicates when it is safe to cross, and, as it remains green unless activated by pedestrians, allows the smooth flow of traffic, he added.

"The council’s argument is that traffic lights actually cause drivers to speed up but that frankly is a separate issue to installing a safe crossing (for blind people).

"The council has told us that it will continue to use the zebra crossing on a trial basis indefinitely.

"But that is not acceptable – do we have to wait for an injury or worse to occur before this crossing is removed? At the minute there are members of the blind and visually impaired community actively avoiding going anywhere near the Maes because they feel it is too dangerous," he said.

Caernarfon Blind club members John Ellis, Ann Hughes and Morlais Williams are all calling for a puffin crossing to be installed.

Rhos Isaf man John Ellis is 90% blind and has been a member of the Blind Club for 25 years.

He said: "With a puffin crossing you press the button and know it’s safe to cross. There is so much noise and traffic down there at the moment that it’s a complete minefield and there is so much uncertainty with a zebra crossing. It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured."

He also issued a challenge to council officers: "We’ve invited the officers of the council to walk blindfolded around the Maes, to simulate blindness, and to show the obstacles blind people have to face there every day but they have refused to take up our offer."

Arfon Access Group also accused the council of ignoring their concerns

Mr West added: "We raised our concerns about the shared space concept on the Maes three years ago but we were completely ignored.

"Shared space works on the premise that pedestrians and drivers make eye contact to negotiate the space safely but that completely excludes blind or visually impaired and disabled people.

"It’s only shared space if you don’t have a disability."

A council spokesman said it was "always eager" to hear the views of local access groups and would continue to hold constructive meetings with members of the Arfon Access Group, Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Caernarfon Blind Club.

As a result, a number of adaptations have already been made such as installing tactile pavements to assist blind pedestrians, adapting the design of a road crossing, and reducing the number of steps leading up to shops.

A discussion has also taken place about installing a puffin crossing but the concern is that this would give priority to drivers when a green light is displayed and could have the effect of increasing the speed of vehicles entering the Maes, but the council would continue to monitor the situation, he added.